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- Treat every gun as loaded
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
- Know your target and what’s beyond
Why Used Shotguns Are the Best Buy in the Used Market
Shotguns are the most mechanically forgiving firearms category. The pressures are lower than rifles, the bore is smoothbore (no rifling to wear out), and the actions are simple enough that a 1950s pump shotgun still does the same job as a 2025 model. That mechanical durability shows up in the used market as the largest discount-to-utility ratio in firearms.
A 1980s Remington 870 Wingmaster bought used today for $400 will shoot identical patterns to a new $700 870 Express. Both will keep doing it for the next 50 years with basic maintenance. That equation does not exist in handguns (where modern striker-fired guns genuinely outperform 1980s designs) or in rifles (where modern ARs are mechanically simpler than older platforms). Shotguns are timeless in a way no other firearms category is.
The other thing shotguns do well is hold value at the floor. A used Mossberg 500 with a worn stock and rough finish still sells for $180-$220 because the action and barrel are functionally as good as new. Try selling a handgun in the same condition, and you will not get half that. Shotgun depreciation flattens fast and stays flat for decades.
Used Shotgun Categories Explained
Police Trade-In Shotguns
Police agencies cycle through pump shotguns slowly , many departments still have Remington 870 Police Magnums and Mossberg 590A1s from the 1990s in active inventory. When trade-ins do hit the market, they are bargains. A retired Remington 870 Police Magnum with the heavy-wall barrel, parkerized finish, and Speedfeed stock runs $380-$550. A Mossberg 590A1 trade-in (military spec, heavy-wall barrel, bayonet lug, metal trigger group) runs $400-$600. Both are functionally identical to the new commercial Police Magnum and 590A1 listings priced at $850-$1,100.
Military Surplus Shotguns
The US military issued shotguns sparingly , Vietnam-era M870 modular shotguns, M9 Bayonet-compatible Mossberg 590A1s for the Marines, and a few specialized variants for breaching teams. Surplus inventory is thin and most of what reaches the civilian market is via Beretta USA’s surplus program (M9 Beretta 1301 ABA cartridge-counter variants are the most recent example). Italian, German, and Soviet-bloc combat shotguns occasionally appear at Classic Firearms but the market is tiny compared to surplus rifles.
Civilian Consignment
The vast majority of the used shotgun market. Hunting Remington 870s and Mossberg 500s, sporting clays Berettas and Brownings, waterfowl Benellis and Benelli SBE3s, turkey-hunting Mossberg 535 ATS rifles. Condition varies enormously: a turkey gun fired three weekends a year for a decade is essentially new; a duck blind workhorse that lived in saltwater and gravel for fifteen seasons looks every minute of it. Read the dealer condition grade carefully and assume the worse interpretation unless the description is specific.
Factory Refurbished / Certified Pre-Owned
Beretta USA, Benelli USA, and Browning all run intermittent CPO programs on trade-ins of their flagship models. A Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus that came back to the importer for warranty work and was refurbished to like-new condition will list 20-30% under MSRP through Beretta’s certified dealer network. Browning Citori and Cynergy CPO units are uncommon but available. CPO units carry a manufacturer-equivalent warranty and are the lowest-risk path into a used sporting-grade shotgun.
Vintage / Curio & Relic Shotguns
Pre-1968 shotguns qualify for ATF Curio & Relic classification with an 03 FFL home license ($30 for three years). The collectible vintage market is rich: pre-WW2 Winchester Model 12 (“the perfect repeater”), Browning A5 humpback semi-auto (manufactured 1902-1998), Parker Brothers side-by-side doubles, L.C. Smith doubles, Ithaca Model 37 bottom-eject pump. Collector pricing rewards original finish, matching parts, and provenance. Refinished or sporterized vintage shotguns drop in value 30-50%.
Top Used Shotgun Models on the Market
Remington 870 (the volume leader)
The Remington 870 is the most-produced shotgun in US history at over 11 million units since 1950. Used 870 inventory is bottomless: Express models (1986-present production) run $225-$350; Wingmasters (the higher-grade walnut-stock variant) run $450-$700; Police Magnums (heavy-wall barrel, parkerized, Speedfeed stocks) run $380-$550 as LE trade-ins. Pre-2007 production (before Cerberus / Freedom Group acquired Remington and quality dipped through the bankruptcy years) is the safer used buy. See our home defense shotgun guide for the modern context.
Mossberg 500 / 590 / 590A1
The Mossberg 500 is the most-traded shotgun in the budget tier. Used Mossberg 500 Field models run $180-$280; the Mossberg 590 (heavy-wall, military-pattern) runs $280-$400; the 590A1 (full military spec with metal trigger group and bayonet lug, the US Marine standard) runs $400-$600 used. The Mossberg ambidextrous tang safety is the platform’s distinguishing feature versus the Remington 870 and works well for left-handed shooters.
Winchester Model 12 (the perfect repeater)
Winchester produced the Model 12 from 1912 to 1964 (and again from 1972-2006 in limited runs). The original 1912-1964 production runs $500-$1,500 used depending on condition and configuration, with engraved Pigeon Grade models running $2,500-$5,000+. The Model 12 has a long enough action stroke that you can take fingers off the slide between cycles , distinctive among pump shotguns. Inspection priorities: chamber pitting from corrosive ammunition (very common on pre-1960 specimens), stock cracks at the wrist, and original finish on the receiver.
Browning A5 Humpback (semi-auto classic)
John Browning’s long-recoil semi-automatic shotgun (manufactured by FN and Remington under license, 1902-1998). The “humpback” silhouette is iconic. Belgian-made Brownings from the FN production run command $750-$1,800; Japanese Miroku-built A5s from the 1980s-1990s run $500-$1,100; the modern Browning A5 (2012-present) is a different gas-operated design that uses the silhouette but not the long-recoil action. Vintage A5 inspection: friction rings (the recoil-tuning brass and steel rings under the forend), magazine spring fatigue, and stock condition.
Benelli M1, M2, and M4 Semi-Autos
Benelli‘s Italian inertia-driven semi-autos dominate the used semi-auto market in the $800-$1,800 range. Benelli M1 (discontinued, the original inertia-driven design) runs $550-$850; Benelli M2 (current production, the workhorse field gun) runs $750-$1,200 used; Benelli M4 (gas-operated tactical model, the only Benelli that is not inertia-driven, US military M1014 contract) runs $1,400-$2,200 used. The inertia-driven action requires no cleaning of the gas system because there is no gas system, which makes the M2 particularly attractive for waterfowl hunters.
Beretta A300 / A400 (sporting semi-autos)
Beretta’s gas-operated semi-autos hit the used market in significant volume from sporting clays and waterfowl hunters trading up to newer models. Beretta A300 Ultima (current entry-level) runs $550-$800 used; A400 Xtreme Plus (the high-end waterfowl gun) runs $1,400-$1,900 used; A400 Xcel Sporting (the clays specialist) runs $1,200-$1,700 used. Beretta’s Italian build quality is consistent across the line, and the Kick-Off recoil system on the A400 is notably gentler than competing platforms.
Browning Citori (over-under sporting standard)
The Browning Citori is the American sporting clays standard, manufactured at Miroku in Japan since 1973. The used Citori market is rich and segmented: field-grade Citoris (lightweight hunting variants) run $1,000-$1,500; sporting clays variants (CXS, 725 Sporting, longer barrels with extended chokes) run $1,800-$2,800; Grade III/V/VI engraved and figured-walnut models run $3,500-$8,000+ depending on year and edition. The Citori action is mechanically simple and lasts hundreds of thousands of rounds with basic maintenance.
Stevens 311 / Savage 311 (vintage budget SxS)
The Stevens / Savage 311 side-by-side double was the budget American double from the 1930s through the 1980s, produced under both names by Savage-Stevens. Used pricing runs $250-$500 depending on era and condition.
The 311 is the classic farm and country gun: short-chambered (2-3/4 inch only, no magnums), fixed-choke, hammerless boxlock. For a buyer who wants a real American double under $500, the 311 is the only realistic option. Inspect for face-and-action looseness: open the action, then close it and lift the gun by the muzzle. Any wobble at the action joint is a red flag.
What to Inspect on a Used Shotgun
Five-point shotgun inspection. Pump-actions and semi-autos share most of the checks; over-unders and side-by-sides have a sixth point covered separately at the bottom.
1. Bore Condition (Chamber + Barrel)
Shotgun bores are smoothbore so there is no rifling to wear out, but pitting still matters. Check the chamber first , corrosive ammunition residue from pre-1970s shotshells can pit the chamber walls, which causes case sticking and ejection failures. Then check the bore from chamber to muzzle: pitting in the first 6 inches is most common (from chamber overflow), but pits anywhere reduce pattern density. A bore mirror or bore light makes this inspection trivial. A scarred-but-clean bore is fine; pitted is reduced value.
2. Action / Pump Rails / Semi-Auto Bolt
Strip the shotgun (most field-strip without tools). On pump-actions, the action bar rails should be smooth with no peening at the contact points; the lifter should snap up cleanly when the bolt is in battery; the slide release should engage positively. On semi-autos, the bolt face should be clean and the gas piston (on Beretta / Browning gas guns) should not show heavy carbon buildup or pitting. Inertia-driven Benellis have no gas system to inspect, which simplifies this check.
3. Stock Condition
Cracks at the wrist (the narrow section behind the trigger) are structural failures and require replacement. Cracks at the recoil lug area (where the stock meets the receiver) indicate dry-rot or heavy use. Walnut stocks with original finish are worth significantly more than refinished stocks on collectible shotguns , Winchester Model 12s, Browning A5s, and any double-gun. On modern synthetics (Mossberg 500 plastic stocks, Remington Express composite), look for sun-bleaching and recoil-pad rot.
4. Choke System
Pre-1980s shotguns are typically fixed choke , the constriction is machined into the barrel and cannot be changed. The choke designation (Modified, Improved Cylinder, Full) is usually stamped on the barrel. Post-1980s shotguns mostly use screw-in chokes (Rem Choke, Win Choke, Mossberg Acu-Choke, Beretta Optima Choke, Benelli Mobil Choke). Inspect the choke threads inside the muzzle for damage; check whether the gun includes the original choke tube set (often missing on used listings). A complete Beretta Optima choke set runs $150-$200 to replace.
5. Magazine Tube and Spring
The magazine tube is a tube full of shells; the spring is the only thing under tension. Both rarely fail, but old shotguns can have weakened magazine springs from decades of storage with loaded magazines. Unscrew the magazine cap, pull the spring out, and test tension. A fresh magazine spring runs $10-$20 and restores feed reliability. On pump-actions, also check the magazine extension if installed (aftermarket extensions can develop loose fit over time).
6. Action Lockup (over-unders and side-by-sides only)
On break-open shotguns (over-unders, side-by-sides), action lockup is the critical wear point. Open the action, close it, then grip the gun at the muzzle and try to wobble the barrels. Any visible play at the action joint indicates wear and is expensive to repair (face-and-action restoration runs $400-$800 from a competent gunsmith).
Also check that both barrels lock up tight when the action is closed and that the top lever returns to a slightly right-of-center position when closed. A centered or left-of-center lever indicates worn locking lugs.
Red Flags: Used Shotguns to Walk Away From
- Heavy chamber pitting from corrosive ammunition. Common on pre-1970 specimens. Case sticking and ejection failures will plague you. Walk.
- Cracked stock at the wrist. Structural failure. Replacement on a collectible vintage shotgun (Winchester Model 12, Browning A5) destroys value even when done correctly.
- Refinished receiver on a collectible vintage shotgun. Original finish even with wear is worth significantly more than a fresh refinish on a Winchester Model 12, Browning A5, or any vintage double.
- Action wobble on a break-open shotgun. Off-face is expensive to fix and renders the gun unsafe for heavy loads until repaired.
- Mismatched barrel and receiver serial numbers on collectible vintage double-guns (Parker, L.C. Smith, Fox Sterlingworth). Original matching numbers are essential for collector value.
- Heavy rust on the bore or chamber. Surface oxidation cleans up; structural pitting does not. A bore mirror reveals the truth quickly.
- Missing choke tubes on a screw-in choke shotgun. Replacement chokes for Beretta Optima HP, Benelli Crio Plus, and Browning Invector-Plus run $40-$60 per choke; a complete set replacement adds $150-$250 to the deal. Negotiate this off the asking price.
Price Expectations by Category
| Category | Discount vs New / Market Logic | Price Range | Buyer Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mossberg 500 / Maverick 88 (used) | 30-40% off retail | $180-$280 | Budget home defense, first-shotgun buyer |
| Remington 870 Express (used) | 30-40% off retail | $225-$350 | Versatile pump, home defense or hunting |
| Remington 870 Police Magnum trade-in | 40-55% off retail equivalent | $380-$550 | Best dollar-value defensive shotgun |
| Mossberg 590A1 trade-in | 40-50% off retail equivalent | $400-$600 | Military-spec defensive / range |
| Benelli M2 Field (used) | 20-30% off retail | $750-$1,200 | Waterfowl, upland, all-purpose semi-auto |
| Browning Citori (used) | 15-30% off retail | $1,000-$2,800 | Sporting clays, upland, trap |
| Winchester Model 12 (vintage) | Collector pricing | $500-$2,500+ | Vintage collector, occasional shooter |
| Browning A5 Humpback (vintage) | Collector pricing | $500-$1,800 | Vintage semi-auto enthusiast |
Where to Buy Used Shotguns
- Guns.com: The volume leader in used pump-action and semi-auto shotgun inventory. Deep Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 stock, plus rotating Benelli and Beretta semi-autos from civilian trade-ins. 30-day return window via local FFL transfer.
- Classic Firearms: The specialist for military-spec and police trade-in shotguns. Stocks the Mossberg 590A1 LE retirements, Remington 870 Police Magnum trade-ins, and occasional military surplus shotguns.
- GunBroker: The auction marketplace for higher-end collector shotguns. Pre-64 Winchester Model 12s, Parker doubles, L.C. Smiths, and other vintage collectibles transact here. Verify seller feedback before bidding on a four-figure shotgun.
- Cabela’s Gun Library / Bass Pro Shops: The brick-and-mortar consignment leaders. Their used inventory is curated, hand-inspected, and graded by a gunsmith before listing. Pricing runs higher than online dealers but the return policy and inspection quality are worth it for collector-grade shotguns.
Current Used Shotgun Inventory
Live inventory from our partner dealer network. Filter by brand to narrow to Remington, Mossberg, Benelli, Beretta, or Browning. New listings post every few hours.
Lorcin L380 380 ACP Police Trade-In Pistol
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Jennings 38 380 ACP Police Trade-In Pistol with Original Box and 2 Magazines
-17%Ruger LCP, 380 ACP, 2.75\" Barrel, 6+1 Capacity, Black Finish - Law Enforcement Used - Good to Very Good Condition
LORCIN ENGINEERING CO L25 Nickel Plated, No Magazine
Related Reading
- Used Guns Pillar: Surplus, Police Trade-Ins, and the Full Used Market
- Used Handguns: Police Trade-Ins, Pre-Owned & Surplus Pistols
- Used Rifles: AR-15s, M1 Garand, CMP Inventory & Bolt-Actions
- Best Home Defense Shotguns in 2026
- Best Shotgun Ammo for Home Defense
- Slugs vs Buckshot for Home Defense
- Best Online Gun Stores: Where to Buy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best used shotgun to buy under $300?
A used Mossberg 500 in 12 gauge runs $180-$280 and is the unbeatable budget choice. A close runner-up is the Maverick 88 (Mossberg-built, simpler trigger group) at $150-$220. Both share the same Mossberg ambidextrous tang safety and accept standard Mossberg accessories. Skip the unbranded import pump shotguns at the bottom of the market: parts support and longevity are uncertain.
Are police trade-in shotguns reliable?
Yes, extremely. Police pump shotguns (typically Remington 870 Police Magnum or Mossberg 590A1) fire fewer than 200 rounds in their entire LE service life because most patrol shotguns ride in vehicle racks unfired. Department armorers inspect them quarterly. Trade-in pricing runs 40-55% off retail equivalent for what is mechanically a near-new shotgun with parkerized finish, heavy-wall barrel, and metal trigger group.
How can I tell if a vintage shotgun has a damaged bore?
Use a bore mirror or bore light from the chamber end. Sharp clean walls, even surface, no visible pitting = good. Frosted or visibly pitted bore (especially in the first 6 inches from the chamber, where corrosive ammunition residue collects) reduces pattern density and value significantly. Heavy chamber pitting causes case sticking; walk away from those. A small bore mirror runs $20-$40 and is the single most useful inspection tool for a vintage shotgun buyer.
What is the difference between a fixed-choke and screw-in choke shotgun?
Fixed-choke shotguns (most pre-1980s production) have the constriction machined into the muzzle and cannot be changed without re-machining the barrel. The choke designation (Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Full) is stamped on the barrel near the muzzle. Screw-in choke shotguns (most post-1980s production) use removable threaded choke tubes (Rem Choke, Win Choke, Beretta Optima HP, Benelli Crio Plus, Browning Invector-Plus) that let the shooter swap between patterns for different game or target distances. For a versatile used shotgun, screw-in choke systems are more practical; for a vintage classic, fixed choke is part of the character.
Are used Benelli semi-auto shotguns worth the price premium?
Yes, for the right buyer. Benelli M2 and Super Black Eagle semi-autos use an inertia-driven action with no gas system — there is no gas piston to clean, no gas port to foul, and the action runs cleanly through volumes of waterfowl ammunition that would bog down a gas gun. Used Benelli M2s run $750-$1,200 versus $1,300-$1,700 new. The price premium over a Mossberg 940 Pro or Beretta A300 reflects the inertia-driven simplicity and Italian build quality, not just brand cachet.
Should I buy a used over-under for sporting clays?
Yes. Used Browning Citoris are the sporting clays standard and hold value exceptionally well. A 2010s 725 Sporting in good condition runs $1,800-$2,400 used versus $3,200+ new. Inspection priority on any used break-open shotgun: action lockup (grip muzzles, try to wobble the barrels — any play is expensive to fix), choke tube completeness (a missing set of Invector-Plus chokes adds $150-$250 to your purchase cost), and stock fit.
Can I ship a used shotgun directly to my home?
Only if it qualifies as a Curio & Relic (over 50 years old, or otherwise ATF-designated as having collector interest) and you hold an 03 FFL home C&R license ($30 for three years). Modern shotguns must ship to a local FFL dealer where you complete ATF Form 4473 and pass a NICS background check before taking possession. The C&R route is the fastest and cheapest path for vintage shotguns (pre-1976 Winchester Model 12s, pre-1976 Browning A5s, and most antique doubles).
Is a 1950s Winchester Model 12 still safe to shoot?
Yes, with low-brass standard 2-3/4 inch ammunition only. Pre-1960 Model 12s were manufactured before steel shot existed and the chokes were not designed for it; use lead shot only. Pre-1972 production also had short chambers in some configurations — verify chamber length before firing 3-inch shells. Have the gun checked by a competent gunsmith before relying on it for hunting; old shotguns can have hidden chamber pitting that turns the first round of corrosive ammunition into a sticky failure.
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